Antonio Pappano, Music Director of The Royal Opera, has paid the following tribute:

'Though I didn't know Jeffrey well, I have admired him from afar for many years. His legendary status as the head vocal coach of the Chereau/Boulez Centenary Ring at Bayreuth caught my attention, and spurred me on to be the best coach I could be.

'He was a true a musician's musician and his career was not a flash in the pan, but something built over many years. As well as his connection to the Royal Opera House, he also had a long-standing relationship with my orchestra in Rome (the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia), which connects me to him in a very special way. Addio, Maestro.'

Recorded at one of our In Conversation series of events, conductor Jeffrey Tate talks about his career and Der fliegende Holländer including some amusing anecdotes.

Jeffrey imparts some great stories featuring his conducting contemporaries, including having to once administer a small operation on Georg Solti and sitting in Pierre Boulez's basement on bean bags listening to The Ring.